Republican lawmaker compares Planned Parenthood to Nazis

Monday

Apr 17, 2017 at 2:47 PMApr 17, 2017 at 3:25 PM

Jim Siegel The Columbus Dispatch @phrontpage

State Rep. Candice Keller compared Planned Parenthood to Nazis on her Facebook page last week, drawing fire on social media from supporters of the organization and others who felt it was inappropriate.

Keller, R-Middletown, posted a meme that included the statement, “One day we will look back at this” with an arrow pointing to the Planned Parenthood logo, and then “the same way we look back at this,” with an arrow pointing to the Nazi swastika.

Keller, who is in her first full term, is defending the post.

“Just as the Nazis took the lives of millions of innocent people and sold their valuables for profit, Planned Parenthood has done likewise as we have seen in hidden camera videos,” she said in a written statement. “Planned Parenthood is a horrific industry that profits from the innocent and the American people should be appalled at their unconscionable activities.”

Keller’s Facebook page has been placed into an unpublished status. She said Facebook is investigating violations of its community standards policy “by others.”

The Republican-controlled legislature have taken steps in recent years to block Planned Parenthood from certain funding, based on objections to the abortions it provides along with other health care services for women. But House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, did not support Keller’s comparison.

“Speaker Rosenberger understands that there is a lot of passion around the issue of protecting the unborn and Planned Parenthood,” said spokesman Brad Miller. “That being said, he does not believe that using such comparisons is an appropriate way to convey that passion or to advance the public discourse.”

Keller tweeted on Monday: “I support Life from Conception to Natural Death. I ran on that platform as a Republican and I'll never be sorry.”

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio declined to comment.

A group called TWW (Together We Will) East Cincy tweeted at Keller that it donated to Planned Parenthood in her honor. She replied: “How much did you give? We have donors that will dbl. match it to Pro-Life Org.”